Impact Driven, People Inspired.

We are an organization focused on impact and energized daily by the beauty in each person we work with and the places we call home.

Our Origins

We started by listening.

With passion and drive to partner in the dreams of people living in poverty, our early days were filled with countless hours in rural farming communities, building relationships, asking questions, listening, and learning the experiences, needs, obstacles and visions of the people we hoped to support. We were not coffee professionals, yet we learned the potential of coffee as a uniquely profitable crop, as well as its connected challenges. We were not business experts, yet we were told of the needs for income diversification through business training and the opportunities for entrepreneurship, given the right resources. Through these learnings, and with a growing team of experienced, passionate and knowledgable staff members, we developed an approach to respond and ensure measurable impact. As we grow in our work, that foundation of relationship which was vital in our inception continues to be a cornerstone, and the ethos of listening, learning, and responding in kind continues to inform all that we do.

Our Team

As an international organization, we are committed to a workforce diverse in its demographic representation, with equal opportunity, investment and clarity for upward growth, and inclusive in its decision making processes. Throughout our activities, we aim to create an environment where all stakeholders feel they belong, are valued, and are supported in their life journey.

  • We are committed to ensuring a supportive, equipped, well-resourced workplace where our team members can thrive. This includes competitive compensation packages, generous annual, maternity and paternity leave, and continual professional development. While this priority requires financial, time and energy investment, we believe it is vital to ensuring organizational sustainability and long-term impacts. 

    We believe it is essential for leadership and staff to be representative of the communities they support. We also believe that the strongest work is done through a collaborative process, connecting both local and global voices and perspectives to share, learn and grow. As of 2025, 50% of our senior leadership team and 92% of our team overall is Rwandan by nationality, and 50% are female.

    Our team is comprised of passionate, knowledgeable, experienced individuals, each bringing both personal and professional backgrounds to help shape the development and implementation of our work. While our administrative staff executes vision and strategy, staff development, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping, fundraising, and operational oversight, our field teams of agronomists and business coaches bring the Fellowship Program to life and ensure that each Fellow is maximizing its resources and potential.

Our Team Values

Leadership Team

  • Jackie Mutesi

    Executive Program Director

  • Nic Lauten

    Executive Director

  • Fred Nsengiyumva

    operations director

  • Lindsay Holben

    impact director

Board of Directors

  • Rebecca Papé

    Cofounder, MiiR

  • Laura Peterson

    Partner, Baker and Hostetler LLP

  • Zane Wilemon

    CEO + CoFounder, Ubuntu Life

  • Nic Lauten

    Executive Director

Our Partners

Our work and impact would not be possible without the dedicated financial support of numerous individuals, foundations and companies who are committed to its success. We are ever grateful for their trust and inspired by their generosity.

We are a proud environmental partner of 1% for the Planet, which connects businesses and nonprofits to protect the planet. To learn more about the 1% for the planet initiative, click here.

If you or your organization would like to learn more about partnering with us in our impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Our 1% for the Planet partners

Financials

Form 990

Annual Reports

For audited financials, please get in touch.